Category Archives: Networking

Nicoll Curtin makes 2012 Recruiter Awards shortlist

Nicoll Curtin, one of the world’s leading IT recruitment specialists, has been shortlisted as part of the Recruiter Awards for the second year in a row.

The international agency, which has offices in London, Singapore and Switzerland, was picked out by a panel of independent judges and will now compete for the Best IT Recruitment Agency award along with four other firms. The company specialises in recruiting for the banking and finance, commercial and public sectors, helping to support the performance of its customers and further the careers of candidates by placing them in high profile IT jobs in London, Zurich and many other cities around the world.

Lawrence Hargeaves, Nicoll Curtin’s managing director, said: “Being commended in 2011 and shortlisted again in 2012 is a credit to all of our teams’ continuous hard work and effort.

“We have been focusing on helping our clients meet their objectives and ensuring our service exceeds expectations.”

The Recruiter Awards are recognised as the industry’s ultimate recognition of excellence and best practice. The 2012 judging panel is made up of representatives from a wide range of businesses including Linklaters, Lloyds Banking Group, Transport for London, Mars UK Chocolate and Deloitte.

DeeDee Doke, editor of Recruiter magazine, said: “Our judges reflect a breadth of world-class professionalism in a variety of disciplines, sectors and geographies. For instance, international expertise, experience and insight is very much on our agenda, as it is for much of our recruitment/resourcing community.”

The winners of this year’s awards will be announced during a ceremony at London’s Grosvenor House Hotel on Park Lane, on Wednesday, May 2.

Via EPR Network
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Sunnier Outlook For IT Specialists In The Investment Banking Sector, Says Top Recruiter

Leading IT recruitment agency Nicoll Curtin has said things are looking up for IT professionals working in the investment banking sector. The London-based company, which specialises in recruiting for the banking and finance, commercial and public sectors, said demand for contractors to work in IT banking jobs has almost doubled in the past three months.

Major banks are preparing to spend more than $2bn (£1.3m) on IT and technology as they prepare to comply with new industry regulations, according to a report by Financial News. Nicoll Curtin said these companies are looking to find the most talented individuals to be involved with these projects, with some IT contractors earning up to £1,200 a day. Demand has also increased for permanent staff, the firm said.

According to Cian Loughnane, associate director, Nicoll Curtin Senior Appointments, there is a shortage of candidates for IT roles within the banking and investment sector who have the required level of project management experience and business analysis skills.

He said: “Banks hiring at the senior end of the spectrum continue to seek talent from direct competitors. Clients remain keenly interested in leveraging the intellectual capital candidates have generated in other organisations.

“Despite macroeconomic factors, the top 5 per cent of managerial talent continue to enjoy bull market packages with clients in some cases offering mid-year guarantees as part of a wider retention strategy.”

Mr Loughnane said banks were not just looking to top level consultancy firms such as Nicoll Curtin to fill vacancies, but to ensure their workforces remain flexible.

As a specialist IT recruitment consultancy, Nicoll Curtin has a vast amount of experience sourcing the best available talent and placing those professionals in a huge range of contract and permanent positions where they will have the maximum impact on the business’ performance. Nicoll Curtin focuses on the world’s top financial centres specialising in IT jobs in Zurich, Singapore and London.

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Hays Reports Tunnel Vision Trapping Workers And Hindering Growth

The Hays Career Outlook Survey has revealed that workers are being trapped in career silos because they don’t believe they can cross sector or industry boundaries, according to new data from the Hays Career Outlook Survey. The survey also highlights that employers in both sectors are often unable to recognise the transferable skills that might help them to identify potential candidates who are capable of supporting their growth plans.

The survey reveals the vast majority of employers believe that previous experience in the same sector is important. Whilst only just over a third (38%) of public sector employers say previous public sector experience is important, over half (56%) of employers in the private sector deem previous private sector experience to be important in potential candidates. 15% of private sector employers say that experience in commercial work is an essential competence of any prospective candidate. Over half of private sector employers (51%) say a lack of direct experience would prevent them from hiring someone from the public sector, while over a third (39%) cite a lack of transferable skills.

Charles Logan, Director at Hays, said: “These findings highlight that workers believe they cannot move between sectors and that employers aren’t always able to understand or give credence to transferable skills. By over-emphasising the value of previous same-sector experience, employers could be missing out on talented people and motivated workers. It is particularly concerning in industries where there is a shortage of skilled professionals and employers may need to consider candidates who have the necessary competencies but may not at first glance be the perfect match.”

Public sector workers confessed they also struggle to move into different areas of the public sector, although this is disputed by their employers. Over three-quarters (78%) of candidates say it is difficult or impossible, and 75% say they have not been encouraged to consider this as an option despite the job cuts. However, 62% of public sector employers say they have encouraged workers to look elsewhere in the sector, either through official training routes like secondments or through the application process itself. Over half (51%) cite a lack of transferable skills as the main reason why they would not hire someone from another part of the public sector.

The survey also shows the career destinations of UK workers. Around a third of private (33%) and public (35%) sector workers would prefer to continue their careers in a mix of the two sectors and not restrict their career options. Over a third (36%) of public sector employers say people in their organisation view the private sector as a more attractive career option, and private sector workers report that people are keen to stay in the commercial world when they move on. However, the vast majority (81%) of public sector workers say they are quite or very well-equipped for a career in the private sector.

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Hays releases ‘The Oil and Gas Global Salary Guide 2012’

Hays has revealed UK oil and gas industry professionals are enjoying competitive wages according to ‘The Oil and Gas Global Salary Guide 2012’, which is based on data from over 14,000 respondents.

The Guide, produced by Hays Oil & Gas and leading jobsite Oil and Gas Job Search, shows that full time UK oil professionals enjoy average salaries of £55,850* per annum which is more than twice the national salary average of £26,244**.

The 2012 survey also demonstrates strong growth in salaries for imported labour. Expat labour can command average salaries of £51,890 per annum: up 6.8% on the previous year.

Contractor day rates for those working in the North Sea (including the UK, Scandinavia and the Netherlands) are amongst the most competitive worldwide. Experienced engineers and managers can expect average rates of £540 per day and, for director level contractors, this figure rises to around £900 per day.

Matt Underhill, Managing Director of Hays Oil & Gas commented: “Last year we reported a 30% rise in contractor wages for UK professionals. This was particularly encouraging for UK based oil and gas professionals as the rates are a good indicator of the state of the job market, being more reactive to short-term changes in demand for skills.”

Underhill continued: “The figures from the 2012 guide figures demonstrate that the UK oil and gas industry has maintained this recovery and day rates remain buoyant.”

Duncan Freer, Managing Director of Oil and Gas Job Search added: “Average oil and gas salaries in the UK are around 8% more than the worldwide average.

“Greater activity is scheduled for 2012 and beyond following a difficult period during the recession. Despite some forecasts many oil companies are continuing to invest in the North Sea so it is a time to look forward with confidence.”

The Salary Guide, which features data from over 50 countries, revealed that continuing global confidence is the central finding of the report. Over 30% of respondents expect salaries to go up by more than 10% in the next 12 months.

Employer confidence has also seen a large increase with 26.7% being extremely positive about the current market: up from just 9.7% in 2011. Three quarters of all employers expect staffing levels to increase in the next 12 months.

Matt Underhill, Managing Director of Hays Oil & Gas, commented: “The salaries, day rates and general sentiment in the guide reflect a strong and confident industry. There are now tremendous opportunities for new graduates and candidates with transferable skills to enter a buoyant and rewarding industry.”

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Nicoll Curtin research reveals current perceptions within the IT industry

IT recruitment agency Nicoll Curtin has conducted a study into the current perceptions, expectations and experiences of hiring managers and jobseekers, with some surprising results.

Around 70 per cent of those involved in the study had never worked with Nicoll Curtin, which allowed the results to represent the general industry.

One of the most shocking results was that only 17 per cent of jobseekers tailor their CV to a role they are applying for, despite the fact that 68 per cent of them admitted to knowing that not doing so could affect their chances of being offered employment.

From a hiring manager’s point of view, the study showed that 62 per cent thought that better communication skills would help jobseekers, as a poor understanding of communication was considered a common reason for not hiring candidates.

As well as this, hiring managers rated the importance of a candidate having the proper technical skills and knowledge at 36 per cent, whereas jobseekers put it at just 22 per cent. Similarly, jobseekers believed that having a history of similar job roles was worth 62 per cent, but managers only considered it at 55 per cent, meaning it is less important than many think.

Many jobseekers worry that having gaps on their CV will affect their employability, but the managers surveyed said they believed it did not factor into their decisions and so rated it at an astonishing 0 per cent.

Having industry knowledge is a must though, as hiring managers revealed when marking it at 85 per cent importance. However, only 18 per cent was given to the expectation that candidates have an understanding of the company’s financial performance.

When it came to recruitment consultants, jobseekers said they were good at providing information on the job at hand, giving 76 per cent, but that consultants did not give enough coaching for interviews, with just 2 per cent awarded.

The Managing Director of Nicoll Curtin, Lawrence Hargreaves, said: “The research demonstrates that candidates are falling short of getting a job on simple things such as poor communication or failing to recognise the importance of technical skills and qualifications.

“The best advice is to build a relationship with a good recruitment agency that can highlight the relevant aspects of your CV for the role, prepare you thoroughly and coach you for your interview to communicate effectively.”

Mr Hargreaves also pointed out that, when applying for a job, candidates need to be properly qualified, find a suitable recruitment agency, make their CV as succinct and attention-grabbing as possible and consult with the agency as much as possible to ensure their consultant keeps on top of things.

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Nicoll Curtin Leads Keynote Presentation For Business Analysts

Nicoll Curtin, a leading IT recruitment agency, was delighted to deliver a presentation to The Institute of International Business Analyst (IIBA) members on ‘Recruitment from a Consultant’s View’.

At the event, Lawrence Hargreaves, MD of Nicoll Curtin, was a keynote speaker and panel member. The presentation for IIBA members included much useful information that attendees were able to take away with them, such as tips, tricks and techniques from both hiring managers and recruitment professionals.

Much of the content discussed at the presentation documented the results of an independent study commissioned by Nicoll Curtin. Both the study and the presentation were aimed at hiring managers and prospective candidates. Those that took part all had an interest in learning about the experiences of recruitment from a Business Analyst perspective and also included information on the various expectations and perceptions of recruitment. The results of the survey are to be published and distributed in early 2012.

Lawrence Hargreaves, Managing Director of Nicoll Curtin, said: “The overall crux of the presentation was to dispel the myth that recruitment consultants are just a necessary evil. Good recruitment consultants offer candidates exceptional opportunities and can enhance careers and increase earning potential.

“What is fundamentally critical to the success of using an agency is building a two-way dialogue and challenging your agency – advice that applies to both candidates and employers.”

Hargreaves also explained that he believes Nicoll Curtin’s method of creating partnerships between itself and its clients and candidates is the way forward within the industry, and that hiring managers should look on recruitment consultancies as a helping hand in searching for the right employees for their companies.

Nicoll Curtin is a recruitment consultancy that specialises in IT Banking Jobs and other positions within the IT sector in the UK and abroad, specifically in Europe and Asia Pacific. Beginning in 1999, the company was originally founded by entrepreneur Derek Johnson and has gone on to win many recruiter awards.

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Hays Procurement And CIPS Partner To Deliver Dedicated Recruitment Services

Hays Procurement, the leading recruiting expert, has signed a new partnership with the Chartered Institute of Purchasing & Supply (CIPS) to provide CIPS members with a dedicated recruitment service, providing specialist procurement and supply management career support for CIPS’ UK members and those overseas.

CIPS members will benefit from Hays Procurement’s regional network of offices and have access to the latest job opportunities. Hays Procurement will offer members a priority service, which will include essential information about the procurement market and careers advice from expert recruiters.

Pat Law, Director at Hays Procurement comments: “Recruitment issues have risen to the fore since the economic downturn and procurement professionals want expert career advice. Our partnership with CIPS will enable us to keep its members up-to-date with the latest information about the procurement market. We look forward to working even more closely with CIPS to raise the profile of the profession and encourage young people to consider it as a career.”

David Noble, Chief Executive at CIPS said: “The combined strength of our preferred partners, who have been chosen following a rigorous selection process, means a huge boost for candidates seeking career opportunities in the procurement and supply chain profession. We must support the next generation of professionals and make this a career of choice for younger audiences and those in mid-career. I believe this combination of experts in the recruitment industry will provide the best mix and the best opportunities.”

For further information or to access current procurement jobs please visit the Hays website.

For more information on CIPS please visit: cips.org.

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Hays Reveals UK Procurement Job Vacancies Rise By A Third In The Past Year

Figures compiled by Hays Procurement, the leading recruiting expert, and the Chartered Institute of Purchasing & Supply (CIPS) show that there has been a significant increase in demand and reward for procurement and supply management professionals during the course of the past year.

Data from Hays Procurement shows that the number of procurement and supply chain job vacancies has risen significantly, with 33 per cent more jobs advertised in Q2 2011 compared with the same period in 2010. Vacancies for Procurement Officers increased most sharply (200%) followed by Senior Buyers (110%) and Procurement Managers (75%).

The highest concentration of job vacancies is in the South East (22%) and London (18%), followed by the Midlands (12%) and the South West (12%), with growth strongest in the automotive manufacturing jobs sector, up an average of 73% per quarter in the first half of the year.

Whilst overall five out of six available procurement jobs remain within private companies there was a notable increase in the number of public sector vacancies, with an average 29% increase in the first two quarters of 2011. This is despite otherwise high rates of job cuts in the public sector, which are predicted to reach 610,000 by 2014/15 at current rates, but also perhaps because of increased pressures within the public sector to reduce costs.

These increases are also reflective of an on-going trend of procurement becoming recognised as a high-level strategic function within organisations during the past decade, shown particularly in terms of salary increases. According to Hays Procurement the number of senior procurement jobs with advertised salaries of between £75,000 and £100,000 per annum rose by 35% in the first half of 2011.

Similarly, 60 per cent of respondents to the CIPS/Supply Management Profile of the Profession Survey earlier this year, reported that their salary had increase in the past 2 years. An overwhelming 86% said their procurement department was doing more than it was 5 years previously, and 39% said they report to a higher level of the company than they did 5 years ago.

David Noble, CEO of the Chartered Institute of Purchasing & Supply said: “The financial crisis and continuing uncertainties weighing on the global economy, have led many companies to review their business strategies and to expand parts of their operations that ultimately help them to reduce costs and ensure the sustainability of future growth. Meanwhile, recent scrutiny of government procurement strategies has led to more strategic employment in the sector.”

With an average twenty (19.65) applicants per procurement and supply chain job, compared to an average thirty (30.40) for human resources jobs, and thirty-one (31.09) for non-qualified finance jobs, the data from Hays also suggests that there may be comparatively attractive opportunities as well as higher demand for candidates, particularly those who may be looking to switch careers.

Meanwhile, 94% of procurement professionals surveyed for the CIPS/Supply Management survey earlier in the year, said that they would recommend purchasing and supply as a career.

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Hays Reveals Research Into Why Small Businesses Lose Talented Employees

Hays, a leading recruitment expert, has announced that, according to its latest survey, small businesses may be losing out on the most talented employees due to concerns among jobseekers around pay and benefits.

The results show that almost half (49 per cent) of those surveyed believe salaries are not as competitive within small companies as they are at larger organisations, and over half (55 per cent) believe smaller businesses are not able to offer as many benefits.

Despite almost three-quarters (74 per cent) of people reporting a positive experience of working in smaller businesses, the survey found that a quarter (25 per cent) would prefer to work for a larger organisation. Over half (52 per cent) expressed concerns about the stability of smaller organisations.

However, respondents felt that job satisfaction and interesting work can be found in any sized organisation. In addition, a number of positive factors about working for smaller businesses were also identified, such as the idea that they offer a more hands-on approach (88 per cent), greater responsibility (83 per cent) and a greater understanding of the business as a whole (83 per cent). The chance to work more closely with senior staff (88 per cent) was also seen as a benefit of small businesses. Respondents also identified recognition from senior managers as another potential draw.

Charles Logan, director at Hays, commented: “In the current turbulent job market it’s no surprise that workers are looking for job security. But we also know that career development is very important to most professionals and this plays a key part in their decision to leave an organisation and accept a new role. To attract the skilled and talented individuals that are needed to remain competitive, small businesses need to combat some of the stereotypes and ensure professionals are aware of the advantages they can offer workers looking to move their careers on.

“If they cannot compete with larger salaries or more expensive benefit schemes, they can often provide more interesting and varied work and the chance for people to work with senior people. It is these benefits that they need to sell to professionals.”

Logan continued: “Benefits need to be finely tuned to the needs of workers in smaller businesses. To counter worries about stability, smaller employers need to clearly communicate to potential recruits where their business is heading and the opportunities for future growth.”

Via EPR Network
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WorkinFashion is a Fashion Job Sensation!

WorkinFashion – The professional network for the fashion industry launched in mid January 2011 after just over 10 months, the website now has thousands of fashion professionals registered seeking jobs in fashion, retail and modeling.

WorkinFashion is fast becoming “the website” to advertise fashion jobs or look for work in the fashion industry.

Managing Director Simon Golding said “I am delighted by the growth of the network; it’s amazing to think that from a cold start WorkinFashion now has hundreds of fashion jobs receiving thousands of applications every month. I think what appeals to fashion recruiters is our simple pricing structure, it’s a one off fee of £200 for a year’s recruitment advertising, recruiters can post as many jobs as they want all year round for less than the price of one fortnight’s job advert on our competitors sites….It’s common sense to use us”.

WorkinFashion combines all the best features of a social network and a specialist fashion, modeling and retail jobs portal. The site offers specific profiles for fashion professionals, models, companies and recruitment agencies working in fashion and related industries.

Fashion job seekers start a free career profile to search fashion jobs, get scouted or simply to network with other fashionistas and companies working within the fashion industry.

Prospective models and fashion designers can upload modeling or design portfolios, browse casting calls and build up contacts within the fashion industry. Fashion brands, retailers and Model agencies can create company profiles on Workinfashion to promote brand awareness, publish press releases in the news section and recruit new talent for permanent or temporary fashion jobs.

WorkinFashion is already working with the majority of top fashion recruitment agencies, advertising over 700 fashion vacancies in areas of the industry ranging from fashion retail, design, buying, and merchandising jobs plus many more. IF you are looking for a fashion job or need to advertise fashion jobs, then we hope to see you joining us on WorkinFashion, register your personal, model, agency or company profile online at workinfashion.com or If you require further information please call (+44) 8 44 544 1550 or email info@workinfashion.com.

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How To Keep Your Career Moving

A career is not something that happens to you from out of nowhere. It is not served to you on a silver platter. It is something that you build through years of doing what you love doing. It is a product of preparation and careful planning. To many people, it is what defines their existence.

Some people make several career changes in their lifetime. This sometimes works, especially if you are looking for a better position and higher pay. But the risk here is that you might make a wrong turn and end up with nothing. When this happens, you find yourself starting all over again.

Career changes can be avoided if early on you have already decided what career to pursue. Preparing early for a career gives you a lot of time to make some detours and commit some mistakes, if it has to come to that, with still plenty of years ahead to spare.

And once you have chosen a career, you have to work real hard to strengthen and advance it. Here are some tips that you can follow to keep your career going.

Get yourself a mentor. You have to accept the fact that you can’t possibly learn everything by yourself. Be humble enough to admit that you need a mentor, somebody who can guide you in your career. This person could be somebody who has survived the challenges in his career and passed life’s many tests with flying colors. A mentor hands over to you the tricks of the trade and the secrets to his success.

Have a role model. This is different from a mentor in the sense that you don’t seek advice from a role model. A role model is one whose qualities as a person you want to have for yourself. It may be the way he carries himself in the office, the way he dresses up, the way he speaks and gets along with others. He must be somebody who occupies a higher position than yours.

Learn new skills. Do not stagnate in where you are now. There is always something new to learn in your field of work. Take advantage of the trainings, workshops and seminars your company provides to employees. Keep on researching about your career. The Internet is a good source of learning what’s new in your field of work.

Do networking. Become a member of networking organizations in your area. Groups like the National Association of Professional WomenNAPW ) offer their members all sorts of activities to help them grow in their career.

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Nicoll Curtin Recruitment Grows Its European Division

Nicoll Curtin, the IT recruitment agency, has grown its European Division in response to strong demand for skilled professionals to fill a range of IT jobs for clients throughout the region, in particular its core market, Switzerland.

Since the company incorporated in Switzerland and received its Cantonal and Federal licences, Nicoll Curtin’s European Division has focused on growing both new and existing business channels. Traditionally strong in the IT contract jobs arena, the company is now expanding into recruiting for permanent roles in its core investment banking and financial services sectors, predominantly for IT jobs in Zurich and Geneva.

The company has also brought on board a number of new clients in the Commercial sector, with a focus on the pharmaceutical industry; new clients include Novartis, Tecan and Swisscom.

To ensure the team is able to fully service the requirements of these new clients, Nicoll Curtin has taken on two additional bilingual recruiters. Fahad Ansari, Head of the European Division, said:-

‘Despite the economic situation, our experience is that demand is still strong in Europe, and particularly in Switzerland, for skilled technologists across banking, financial services and other private sector industries. We are working on a wide range of roles across the IT spectrum, including development jobs, business analyst jobs, infrastructure jobs and project management roles at all levels. This is the first phase in our growth strategy, and we will be making further additions to the team as we continue to grow both our permanent and Commercial offerings.’

Established in 1999, Nicoll Curtin recruitment specialises in sourcing high calibre candidates for IT contract jobs and permanent IT roles in the banking, financial services and commercial sectors. The company’s clients include a range of market leading global organisations in the UK, Europe and Singapore.

The European Division operates in Switzerland, Germany, Austria, France, Norway, Denmark, the Netherlands and Belgium.

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Hays Suggests Oil And Gas Employers Must Consider Other Skilled Workers To Fill Staff Shortfall

Hays has reported that employers should start considering employing people from other energy and engineering sectors if they are to successfully fill the increasing number of jobs being generated in the oil and gas industry in Scotland.

The comments come as the sector continues a steady recovery, generating a number of new technical and engineering posts. However, there is currently a shortage of people with the necessary skills and experience to fill the posts, caused partly by the lure of better paid positions overseas, combined with a lack of new engineering graduates.

According to Graeme Fyfe, director of Hays’ Oil and Gas division in Scotland, employers will need to compromise on non-essential aspects, take a much broader view of their skills requirements and also ensure they have a long-term strategy to address the issue with an investment in training and development.

“The good news is that energy projects that were previously on hold are now being reinstated and offshore fields which reduced production are coming back online,” said Fyfe. “But there is currently a serious shortage of people with the rights skills and experience to fill the posts that are being generated. This applies across the board, but the pinch point is in mechanical and project management roles. Almost without exception, our clients are looking for skilled project engineers who tend to be at the heart of any manufacturing process – but they simply aren’t available.

“There isn’t time to train them or wait for the next influx of graduates, so in the meantime employers should take a more strategic approach and consider if people from other industry sectors could fulfil these jobs, albeit with some additional learning. For example, we have recently placed a project manager from construction into a manufacturing role in subsea systems and equipment. Another candidate with experience in a heavy forged products environment has relocated to Aberdeen and is now working for a company that manufactures offshore equipment.”

According to Fyfe, people who work in construction, defence, automotive and other large complex engineering industries are often already working to the high standards that are required in the oil and gas sector. They therefore have many transferable technical and project management skills. This is more cost-effective in the longer term, he believes, than opting to offer higher salaries or delaying projects.

“There needs to be a balance between encouraging more people into science and engineering and employers being much more strategic in their forward planning. Not only is there a shortage of new talent but a ‘brain drain’ is causing many of our skilled engineers to relocate overseas at a critical time when we need the right people in place to grow the industry.”

For further information and to access jobs visit www.hays.co.uk/oil-and-gas.

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How to Achieve Success

The good news is that there is no secret formula or magical key to success. Anybody can learn how to achieve success by developing such personal qualities as persistence, strength, high moral values and hard work.

Persistence or tenacity could be the most important ingredient in success. Most successful women achieve their goals not because they are the smartest or the most capable but because they simply did not giving up. In many cases, all that is required for success is to stay in the game.

Quite a few women do not develop this quality – instead they get discouraged and loose their motivation. This occurs because these women do not have any successful role models. It is very easy to get discouraged and frustrated when you go it alone.

Therefore one of the best ways to learn how to achieve success is to spend time around successful women. Simply seeing and talking to others who have achieved their goals and overcome obstacles can motivate you to stay in the game.

Networking for Success
Organizations like the National Association of Professional Women, community groups, business groups and alumni associations are a great place to meet other successful women. They are also a good refuge from a male dominated business environment.

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Hays And CBI Release Digital Report On Workplace Flexibility And Communication

Hays and CBI have called on the Government to fundamentally rethink its approach to employment law in order to bolster workplace flexibility and foster better employment relations.

Launching its first ever digital report Thinking Positive: the 21st century employment relationship, produced in collaboration with Hays, the CBI explores how the employment relationship has changed, becoming even more flexible.

The report includes video interviews with employees and staff on the benefits of good communication and flexibility, and looks at how this helped minimise private sector job losses during and post-recession.

Now the CBI says the Government should build on the success of workplace relations forged during the recession by embedding this flexible approach into future employment law and in its Employment Law Review. Rather than automatically opting for legislation, in most cases the Government should specify what it is trying to achieve and set out suggested processes in more flexible guidance or codes of practice. With much of the UK’s employment law coming from Europe, this approach should also be applied to EU directives.

So far, the Government has given some welcome signals on reducing regulation and is looking at ways of improving the tribunals system. But it has also introduced policies that have reduced flexibility, including abolishing the Default Retirement Age without addressing the need for employers to have protected conversations about retirement plans and failing to review the Agency Workers Directive, which has been gold plated to include extra process costs for employers, not required under European law.

John Cridland, CBI director-general, said: “Traditionally when making employment law governments have tried to specify every last detail of what should go on in the workplace.

“With a strong base of employment rights already in place, we simply don’t need the state telling us how to manage every aspect of basic human relations.

“The Government should adopt a simpler approach to future employment law, one which maximises choice for employers and staff and plays up the strengths of our flexible labour market.

“Good communication helped companies and employees work together to make difficult changes to working patterns to get through the recession. These lessons are particularly important now the public sector is facing similar challenges as a result of measures to cut the deficit.”

Commenting on the benefits of greater workplace flexibility for staff, Alistair Cox, chief executive of Hays plc, added: “Flexibility is a key ingredient in driving future economic growth in the UK. It is also a key aspect that more and more professionals look for in their lives and careers, particularly at a time when we want to encourage employers to invest and create more jobs, despite today’s economic uncertainty.”

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Women Seen to Dominate the Corporate World in a Few Years Time

Professional women are going to dominate the workplace and the corporate world in just a few years. Six out of ten college graduates are women, so six out of ten new hires in corporate America are women. That means that six out of ten executives and six out of ten professionals in corporations will be women in the near future.

Women who want to succeed in this new environment will need to learn how to network with other professional women. That is why organizations such as the National Association of Professional Women are so important. Such groups provide professional women a framework for networking and communication.

Traditional male oriented business organizations do not. In fact, male oriented organizations often deliberately and systematically exclude women. Women who want to succeed will need to network to find the opportunities and develop the relationships necessary for success.

Men have succeeded in corporate America by building relationships and networks of relationships. Women are even better at creating relationships and networking so they should have a tremendous advantage entering the corporate arena.

The basis of success in business has always been networking. Those who are best at networking find the opportunities and create the networks. This is even more critical today because in today’s world, networking is business. As business becomes more networked and less hierarchical, women will have the advantage.

The old model of business was the hierarchal corporation of top down command. Today’s model of business is a network of people working together. It is based on communications technologies like the internet which give women the advantage. Those who are the most effective at communication will dominate the corporation of the future.

In this new corporate world, women have the advantage. They will be the dominant force and the future. Not only do women have the numbers they have the communications and networking skills to dominate the corporations of the future.

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Hays and The Times Name Louisa James as PA of the Year 2011

Hays and The Times have announced that Louisa James, of Wandsworth, London, has triumphed in the Hays and The Times PA of the Year Award 2011, being named the country’s top PA. Her energy and enthusiasm have seen her expand her role, embracing significant project management and organisational leadership such as being actively involved in the ‘Jamie’s 30-minute meals’ award-winning app, helping her secure the top spot.

PA to the managing director at Jamie Oliver Ltd, Louisa was announced as the winner at an awards ceremony held by Hays, the leading recruiting expert, at Flemings Hotel, Mayfair, London on the 19th of May. Louisa has won a five night break for two in Prague, courtesy of Portman Travel. She will also receive a place on The PA Retreat, an intensive residential training programme for management PAs, courtesy of Castalia Coaching & Training.

Louisa said: “I feel so honoured to be chosen as the PA of the Year. I give my job my all, and to be recognised like this is a wonderful feeling. People often don’t realise the huge impact PAs can have in an organisation, so it’s wonderful to be acknowledged like this.”

Second place was awarded to Christopher Juliff, diary, visits and events manager to the NHS chief executive. The judges praised Christopher’s passion for his career and his expertise, along with his outstanding attention to detail in a high pressured environment. They also noted his strong personal commitment to the diversity agenda.

Third place went to Zara Dyer, PA to the managing director at Liverpool Football Club. The judges were impressed by her passion for developing a PA network in the North and skill in being able to support her boss in a way that maximises her time and effectiveness.

As well as the three finalists, the three runners up were: Jennifer Batty, executive assistant to associate and executive directors of Russell Reynolds Associates; Lisa Partridge, PA to Michael Caines MBE and Sharon Walsh, executive assistant to the HR director at Channel 4

The awards were presented by Michelle Mone founder and co-owner of MJM International and creator of Ultimo, the UK’s leading designer lingerie brand.

Michelle declared: “Congratulations to Louisa, who has fought off some stiff competition to claim this year’s Award. She and all the finalists have shown just how valued the roles of PAs and executive assistants really are. People in this role make a considerable contribution to businesses across the country, so it’s great to be putting the spotlight on them.”

This year’s judging panel consisted of: Susie Barron-Stubley, managing director of Castalia, the coaching and training company; Gareth Osborne, director general of the Association for Personal Assistants (APA); Laura Richardson, last year’s winner; and Geoff Sims, managing director of Hays PA & Secretarial.

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Hays Survey Reveals Public Sector Job Cuts Will Damage Frontline Service Delivery

According to new research published by Hays, the leading recruiting expert, the public sector is facing a critical loss of employees, with almost half (45%) of staff in the sector facing redundancy or actively seeking work in the private sector.

Although the public sector is faced with the need to make cuts, pay, career development and job security are all seen to be better in the private sector, resulting in a severe skills loss, which will impact on its ability to deliver frontline services effectively.

The Hays Public Sector Survey 2011 finds that some public sector employers are struggling to recruit staff with the right skills to manage frontline services. Since the Comprehensive Spending Review 18% of employers say it is harder to attract skilled job candidates. Over 80% of employers say uncertainty around job security is the primary factor stopping people looking for work in the sector, followed by changes to benefits (51%) and scrutiny over pay (39%).

Furthermore, headcount reduction schemes and cuts may be draining the public sector of its most vauable employees. 60% of employers and the same level of workers believe voluntary redundancy and early retirement schemes are resulting in the loss of the best talent. Over 60% of staff say they fear the sector will be unable to attract the staff needed to manage the transformation and change ahead.

Andy Robling, public services director of Hays, said: “With such a widespread exodus of staff, it is highly likely that frontline services will be affected. Employers have to make cuts and drive cost savings, but they are also faced with increased demand for many frontline services, such as healthcare and education. The combination of pay scrutiny, fears around job security and critical media headlines means a stigma has started to develop around public sector careers. Many public sector workers are feeling demotivated, devalued and stuck in less challenging careers. The public sector needs to act now to address this before it is too late.”

Asked what areas they would improve to help attract professional staff to the public sector, employers and employees both reported pay and career development as the top two factors. Almost 70% of employers agree they need to review what they have to offer jobseekers so they are perceived more positively, with over a third (38%) saying this is an urgent priority.

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Hays and LCCI Reveal The Private Sector Needs Government Support

Hays, the leading recruiting expert, and The London Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI) have partnered to produce a report called “The Challenges of transition: from public to private”.

As the government’s cost cutting measures continue to impact on workers, more needs to be done to support workers through the transition to the private sector, according to the new report.

Around 330,000 people are expected to lose their public sector jobs over the next four years. While both sectors have many similarities, the perceptions the sectors have about each other could limit the ability of ex-public sector employees to quickly return to the labour market thereby risking longer term joblessness.

Through this report, which surveyed the views of public sector employees and private sector employers, the LCCI and Hays have identified six critical steps to ensure the successful transition of the workforce from the public to the private sector: encourage better understanding; incentivise the private sector; identify regional skills gaps; review onboarding procedures; enhance existing support programmes; and promote self-reliance and resourcefulness.

Mark Staniland, director at Hays said: “As the government cuts begin to take effect there is a growing pressure on the private sector to create new jobs. There is no doubt that public sector employees have many skills in need right across the private sector. However, it is unreasonable to believe that transferring a large proportion of the workforce will not need specialist help to progress smoothly. The government must act now and put provisions in place to support the workers and both sectors need to work together to make sure the skills available are used to their full advantage.”

Colin Stanbridge, chief executive of the LCCI added: “We hope this report will make a meaningful contribution to this important debate, which in turn will help get people in to new jobs while giving a shot in the arm to the London and UK economies. In the months to come there will be many talented individuals from the public sector coming on to the job market which is a great opportunity for employers looking to bring in new skills and ideas to their business.”

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Hays Plc Calls For G20 Action On Global Jobs Creation

Hays plc, the global specialist recruiting firm, has called on governments and industries across the world to take joined-up action to tackle the looming threat of increased global unemployment as the world’s working population is set to increase dramatically. With many countries already at record levels of unemployment, co-ordinated action needs to be taken now to avert future labour crises as significantly more people are set to join the global labour force. To this end Hays has developed a Five Point Plan.

Hays, which placed more than 230,000 people in work across 30 countries in 2010, has published a seminal report; Creating Jobs in a Global Economy, compiled in partnership with economic forecaster, Oxford Economics, illustrating the challenges ahead for employers, employees and governments across the world.

The report forecasts the dramatic movements of workforce, power and wealth across the globe over the next 20 years. The world’s working-age population is expected to increase by over a billion people in this timeframe. However, all of this growth will be developing economies. The developed world will see its workforce shrink and age.

Governments and industries must start to plan now how they will deal with this imbalance, both to harness the economic potential that this larger workforce can provide as well as creating the skills that will otherwise become in increasingly short supply in many areas. Developing markets will face a period of rapid industrialisation and infrastructure construction which will require access to skilled and experienced workers currently unavailable in sufficient numbers domestically. Similarly, the developed markets will need to find ways of maintaining their competitive edge in key industries by investing in the future skills required, albeit against a backdrop of a smaller and older pool of workers.

Alistair Cox, CEO, Hays, said: “Our report illustrates the profound and stark challenges our world will face in the future both to create employment opportunities for a billion more people and balance the mismatch we are already seeing between supply and demand of key skills. Only by thinking globally can governments and companies put in place the environment to solve these conflicting challenges and create the basis for full employment and a sound global economy.”

The report demonstrates the need for employment policy to be discussed at the G20 in Mexico and at the WEF next year. Cox added: “Everyone is talking about the growth in the Chinese population. The fact is that China’s working age population is set to plateau and then decline in our generation, just like many countries in the West. No one is yet talking about how industries will employ the extra billion people who will soon be looking for work in India, Africa and South America. That is a huge opportunity if governments and businesses get it right, but a big social problem if we get it wrong.”

‘Creating Jobs in a Global Economy 2011-2030’ follows the publication last year of ‘Action on Skills and Jobs: The Hays Manifesto for Employment’ which outlined the actions needed to create a healthy employment market in the UK.

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